Chinese Seals

peaches on a tree

2009-05-04T16:46:00.000-07:00

A sweet little seal with much cultural resonance: peaches on a tree. The peach is native to China and is involved in many stories, including that of Yu Huang (the Jade Emperor) and his mother Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West) who conferred longevity on the gods by feeding them the peaches of immortality, whose tree fruited only once every 1000 years.

Inscription 1: 千年桃實大如斗仙人摘之㕥, qian nian tao shi da ru dou xian ren zhai zhi [ ],
A thousand year peach, big as a dipper. The immortal picks and eats.
Inscription 2: [ ] 酒一食能得千年壽 [ ] 頰(?)常在十八九, [ ] jiu yi shi neng de qian nian shou [ ] jia chang zai shi ba jiu, Drink this wine (elixir) once to gain a thousand years of longevity, rosy cheeked always, like an 18 or 19 (year old).
Impression: 月+?, 龍, [ ] long, [ ] dragon. The right half of the first character is very elusive to me.
Signature: 又耕占, You Geng Zhan

geometric

2009-05-03T17:42:00.001-07:00

A simple and elegant square seal with facing swirls on the top.
Inscription: 丙申正月二十看(?) 三日達受志, bing shen zheng yue er shi kan(?) san ri da shou zhi, 1896 (or 1836 or 1956), the 20th day of the 1st lunar month, realized in 3 days (by) Shou Zhi
Impression: 實迷塗其未遠, shi mi tu qi wei yuan, (A direct translation is difficult; the sense is:) It seems you are lost, but you're not far from the goal.

boy

2008-03-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

A charmer. A boy poses coyly on a column with something carved into the side.
Inscription: 三庚記, San Gang li, San Gang recorded
Impression:無長物齋, wu zhang wu zhai, without long(duration) thing hut (study)
Thanks to Yugan—again—for identifying the characters. And also to Larry Weinberg and Vance Wan who translate the seal as a Buddhist saying: "Material things don't last" with the final character lu, hut, referring to the seal as for (or from) a studio.
Just for fun, Google translates the impression as "belongings vegetarian" where the last character, lu, can be read as 'vegetarian' as well as 'hut.' Babelfish has it as "Non-surplus room."

red seal

2008-03-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Not a favorite, but handsome.
Top: 示畐 (福), fu, happiness, good fortune
Inscription: 徐同柏刻, xu tong bo ke, carved, quietly like a cedar
Impression: 小橋流水人家, xiao qiao liu shui ren jia, small bridge, flowing water, home

half cylinder seal

2008-03-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

The impression from this seal is a dragon. It's the inscription which is long and interesting, and for which the seal has been carved to present a flat framed area.
Inscription (as written on the seal):
容時刻耕
[ ] [ ] 於石
京 [ ] [ ] 農
時三石夫
冬 [ ] [ ]
日
geng shi nong nong [ ] ke yu [ ] shi [ ] shi [ ] [ ] san dong ri rong [ ] jing shi
(Something like...) A peasant farmer farms stone, engraved at ... stone ... , time ... three winter day, ?
The very generous Yugan Talovich offers this:
耕石農夫制(?)
刻於鄉(?)石坊
時年卅三冬月
客居京時
With this much improved translation: Stone ploughing farmer engraved this at the Home Stone Studio when he was 33 years old, in a winter month, while living as a guest in the capital.
Impression:

all thunder

2008-03-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

I've done my own seal script based on traditional forms, translating terse Chinese proverbs. The form of the characters are intended to help convey the message. These were not intended for seals, but appeared in some etchings I did in 2002. You can check Chinese prints .
乾打雷不下雨
All thunder and no rain.

spotted translucent seal

2008-03-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

The stone is translucent with dark inclusions, a bit like moonstone. The short choppy strokes on the inscription make the characters hard to decipher. The 2nd line, which is the date, might be interpreted in many ways due to the Chinese cyclical calendar.
Inscription: 竹能醫俗甲辰三月吉金治印, zhu neng yi su jia chen san yue ji jin zhi yin Bamboo cures worldliness 1724 (or 1784, 1844, 1904), 3rd month, Ji Jin Zhi seal (the final 4 characters, rather than being a name, might say "lucky gold cure").
Impression: 竹能醫俗, zhu neng yi su Bamboo cures worldliness

cloud(?) seal

2008-03-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

A beautiful stone carved into the shape of a cloud, perhaps. Suggestions welcome.
Inscription: 光諸己亥重陽日, guang zhu ji hai chong yang ri, (reign of) Guangxu (1875-1908), (year) 1899, Chongyang Festival (aka Double Ninth Festival, ie 9th day of the 9th month)
Impression: 道不同不相為謀, dao bu tong bu xiang wei mou, If our paths are different we won't worry.

"chess" seal

2008-03-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is complex: a seal depicting a board game, like the Japanese "go," which was played in China long, long ago. On one side the game, on the other a shack (hermit's hut) with overhanging trees and in the background, mountains. On the top and sides are phrases, proverbs; on the bottom, another. So...
Inscription, top: 如意, ru yi, as you like ("whatever you wish"); Side (top left photo): 心圫(?)光明宜増壽, xin yu(?) guang ming yi zeng shou, a clear conscience prolongs life; Side (middle left): 精神爽朗[ ]康强, jing shen shuang lang [ ] kang qiang, a clear mind makes for good health.
Impression: 校州譚儀中儀父, xiao Zhao Tan yi zhong yi fu
(Something like) Officer Zhao Tan [ceremonies ... father]. I don't know how to render the second phrase as the character for ceremonies/rites/appearance, 儀, appears twice.

horse seal

2008-03-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

A horse, head turned back, reclining on a carved stone. The stone itself is a translucent orange/pink, with black toward the horse's rear.
Inscription: 山水癮, shan shui yin, addicted to landscape
Impression: 山川癖, shan chuān pǐ, addicted to landscape

somersaults on knives

2008-03-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

dragon seal

2008-03-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

A sturdy, squarish dragon atop a (cracked) base. I'm confused about the inscription and impression. As always, help is welcome.

Impression:(b&w) 完白山人 wan bai shan ren which could be the carver's name as there is a carver with approximately that studio name who lived 1743-1805. Or it could mean what it says: completed white mountain man (contented hermit on White Mountain?).

Inscription: contains the same characters plus 印 yin 'seal.'

triangular seal

2008-03-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

A very efficient seal design, with two impressions contained within the three sides, the third side having a string for easy carrying.

Inscriptions:如意 ru yi, as you wish (center photo): 吉羊 ji xiang, luck, auspicious.

Impressions: same as above but in two different seal script styles. According to the Shanghai Museum, the top, flowery, script, is '"Niao Chong Script", which takes strokes imitating shapes of bird, worm, fish and even some abstract patterns. This peculiar script first appeared on bronze vessels and became popular ... from the Spring and Autumn to the Warring States.'

ivory dragonturtle

2008-03-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

My only ivory seal. No side inscriptions, and the impression is still unknown (to me), though the bottom left character (b&w) is 寶 bao, treasure. The two to the right side are tough to figure out.

poetic seal

2008-03-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

An ambitious bit of carving here. The text of (apparently) a poem is carved in relief around all four sides of this columnar block. I don't know the poem, but it says in essence:

During the Chuan(?) dynasty, at the Han (Chinese) border

At the great wall [] man has not yet returned

Let's have a heroic officer stationed at this spot

To prevent the barbarian forces invading on their horses through the mountains

(Thanks to Alan Ho)

The two characters on the side say lao tie, old iron. I don't know what the seal impression says but it's pretty nice,

gourd seal

2008-03-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

A small seal in the form of a gourd. Haven't done any translating on this one yet.

rhinoceros cup seal

2008-03-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

In the old days drinking from and collecting cups made from rhinoceros horns was the rage (seen a rhino in China recently?). Rhino horn also confers longevity on those who consume it. This seal commemorates that tradition by taking the form of a rhino horn.
Inscription plays on the longevity idea by comparing the age of "South Mountain" to that of a young pine: 壽比南山不老松 shou bi nan shan bu lao song (it means, ie, ever young). The carved decoration on the 'horn' is also of mountains and pines.
Impression simply: 八十翁 ba shi weng "80 year old man." He was hopeful.

happy heaven

2008-03-07T18:53:00.001-08:00

This one is curious and cool. The top is carved like it was meant to be printed, but it is not. It says, in a perfectly readable way without printing, 歡天喜地 huan tian, xi di something like: happy heaven, happy earth. The same is written in regular Chinese on the side, plus the word 'seal.'

Impression 墨汁因缘 mo zhi yin yuan is harder to render into an English phrase. Literally it says 'ink stick, fluid, reason, fate' which is kind of like 'born to write (or paint)'.

Sealscript fan by Li Jia-fu

2008-03-07T17:57:00.000-08:00

I love not only the seals, but also the script, called zhuan shu, seal script.

This fan was made by Li Jia-fu (1829-1894) in year 10 of Guang-shu (by Chinese traditional reckoning), which would be 1885. The inscription in regular script, on the left, explains the occasion (approximately): Last year I happened to record my humble composition. I'm presenting this to my noble brother (an honorific--probably his host) for comment.

The seal script text basically says: When I went away to the north valley from the capital to escape the heat (on vacation), I saw birds and a river and rocks, etc. and I forgot the heat. I made this humble picture/poem.

It was common among the traditional scholarly aristocracy for a guest to give a gift to a man who hosted a visit, which were often quite long. The reference to a picture-poem suggests there may have been a drawing on the verso of the fan. It's not there now I'm sad to say.
(Thanks to Candice Lee for the translation)

jade boy

2008-03-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

A small boy lies on his stomach on a plinth or stool decorated with lucky bats. No side inscriptions on the heavy and hard stone, and even the impression was very hard to make out. I include the actual back-and-forth worksheet that Alan Ho and I used.

Impression: 吉如祥意 ji ru xiang yi, Good peace and wishes be granted unconditionally.

abstract lion

2008-03-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

A stalwart lion, highly abstracted in an almost cubist way. No side inscriptions or date.

Impression: [literally] hall encompassing ancient artifacts, which probably means 'collection'

jade(?) seal

2008-03-02T12:37:00.000-08:00

I'm told that this is jade, which is a very hard stone. Maybe... A beautiful stone in any case. Most jade seals were owned by emperors and such. More info soonish.

Seal in the shape of a book

2008-03-02T12:35:00.001-08:00

A seal like a book with the cover folded back. You can see the "printing" and even worm holes.

Inscription: gui you (1933, 1993); Chinese new year; [either a name] Fu Chang [or a description] lucky workshop.

Impression: [on left] therefore made; [on right] ??

Buffalo

2008-02-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

A seal with a reclining buffalo. I haven't attempted to translate inscription or impression.

Bamboo

2008-02-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Yugan—once again—we have definitive info including, incredibly, a photograph of the carver, studio name Mu Fu, given name Huang Shi Ling (1849-1908).

Inscription: 牧甫刻 Mu Fu ke, carved by Mu Fu
Impression: 1st character is 如, ru or 吳, Wu, but 2nd character is still illusive.

120 Chinese 'shous' in Leloatong

2008-02-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Here's the story: These scrolls---4 of an original 6---were owned by a collector of antique Chinese books and "the four treasures of the study (inkstick, inkstone, brush, and paper)." The title of the piece is "A Collection of 120 Chinese Character Shous in Leloatong." The scrolls were made by the seal engraver Sun Pan in the 49th year of the Emperor Qianlong (1784). Mr. Sun Pan is said to have collected the impressions of the character 'shou' (longevity) from many famous seal carvers of different dynasties, and added (in black) a short commentary for each. Supposedly this collection appears on p. 92 of the book "A Dictionary of Chinese Seal Characters," but I'm afraid to check it out. Probably a forgery (it's clearly old and re-mounted on new scroll backings) but a beauty in any case.

Anyone know anything? I'd be happy to email better photos if someone wants to work on this.

Japanese hanko

2008-02-26T14:58:00.000-08:00

My one and only Japanese seal. A former student translated the inscription for me (I think the seal impression is the same): Take-uchi Kin-pei shi saku; Made by Mr. Kinpei Takeuchi.

Maitreya Buddha with his bag of blessings

2008-02-23T17:56:00.001-08:00

Dimensions: 2.5"h x 1.6"w x 1" deep
Date: unknown
Impression: 汪 Wang; 士 Shi; 鐘 Zhong (the first three characters are the name); 曾 ceng (past tense marker); 讀 du (to read)
Read by Wang Shi Zhong

There are no identifying side inscriptions on this seal but the carving continues on all four sides of the stone where there are caves, lucky bats and other pleasures.
Many thanks to Yugan on the decryption.

Simple, elegant seal

2008-02-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 1"h x 1.3"w x 1" deep
Studio name: 大年 Da Nian
Given name: : Weng Da Nian (1811-1890?)
Inscription: 朗亭先生屬大年 lang ting xian sheng shu da nian At the request of Mr. Lang Ting (signed) Da Nian
Impression: 沈兆霖印 Chao Zhao Lin yin , Chao Zhao Lin's seal (Lang Ting is Chao Zhao Lin's studio name)

Simple and elegant. The usual 'reading' for a seal is right column-top to bottom, then left column. This one starts top right and reads counter-clockwise

The Palace Museum Beijing, has a Da Nian seal online. They say the side inscription is his signature, but it says 均叔 Jun Shu. I dunno'

Seal in the form of a pile of books

2008-02-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 1.2"h x 1.3"w x 1.2" deep
Studio name: Shi Huo
Date: Gui hai (1803, 1863, 1923), 3rd month
Inscription: 長壽增福癸亥三月石火 chang shou zeng fu gui hai san yue shi huo long life, increased good fortune. gui hai (year), 3rd month. (carved by) Shi Huo
Impression: 長壽增福 chang shou zeng fu, Long life, increased fortune

The seal depicts a multi-volume set of Chinese books, printed on lightweight rice paper with sewn bindings, a typical feature of the scholar's study.

Two-sided seal in the form of Han Dynasty bronze seals

2008-02-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: .63"h x 1.25"w x 1.3" deep
Impression: guo hai shen [ ],a heavenly figure crossing the sea

There are no identifying side inscriptions on this seal. One of the impressions is pictorial, a vase of flowers and ?. Picture seals were common during the Han Dynasty. The rectangular hole passes entirely through the stone. Try this: Alan Ho suggests that, if the picture is seen turned 180 degrees, and the outside radical of each character in the seal script impression is eliminated, the remaining character components - somewhat squished - form the picture.

Seal in the form of a small house

2008-02-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 1.3"h x 1.3"w x 1.4" deep
Studio name: Xiao Song (Small Pine)
Date: Xin you (1801, 1861, 1921), 4th month
Inscription: xin you (year), 4th month, I lodged at this place, so stated (signed) Xiao Song
Impression: 200 orchid garden study well appreciated

The very image of an informal seal of appreciation. Note the paper lanterns flanking the courtyard doorway.

Phoenix seal

2008-02-23T17:35:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: .75"h x 2.2"l x 1.1"w
Studio name: Man Sheng
Given name: Chen Hong Shou (1768-1822)
Inscription: Man Sheng zuo wu rui feng tang wu zi qiu, Man Sheng made this (seal) at drooping leaves phoenix hall, especially recorded.
Impression: Long life, with image of a phoenix

This seal is a fake. Chen Hong Shou was a famous seal engraver who lived 1768-1822. According to the date inscribed on the seal (wu zi, 1768, 1828, etc) the seal would have to have been engraved when Mr. Chen was still an infant. When I pointed this out to the seller he said that "we see eye to eye." I bought it anyway on the principle that, as in the West, many copies were by way of practice or homage, though this seal could have been made strictly for gain. More than one Chinese collector, though, restricted himself to the accumulation of copies.

Two seals linked with a carved chain

2008-02-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: each piece: .63"h x.87" x .87"; 6" long with chain fully stretched out
Studio name: Qi Zhou
Given name: Liao Yan
Date: bing chen,(probably) 1916
Inscription: (right to left) Qi Zhou ke; bing chen dong, carved (by) Qi Shou; bing chen (year) winter
Impression: (still working on these)

A bit of fancy carving here, by a well known seal engraver of the Republic years in Shanghai.

A square, red columnar seal, impressions on both ends

2008-02-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 3"h x .87"w x .87"l
Studio name: Guan Shan
Given name: Huang Can (?)
Inscription: (something like...) East Mountain... White waves scatter across the river, the color of the water connecting itself with the sky.
Impression: Top: shui yun xian, tranquil water cloud
Bottom: ji xiang da shou, lucky, auspicious, great longevity

I include here the working sheet for the translation of the side inscription. Writing on stone is difficult, and often leaves characters somewhat obscure. Feel free to make suggestions.

A goofy face seal

2008-02-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 2.25"h x 1.75"w x .37" deep
Studio name: You Zhu
Inscription: (on one's) left, pictures and books; (on one's) right, qin (a musical instrument) and jug of wine; (carved by) You Zhu
Impression: zuo tu qie shu, you qin yu hu (same as inscription)

An image comfortably goofy--intentionally--beautifully done, on a gorgeous stone. And I'm very sympathetic with the inscription.

A dragon climbing a stone column

2008-02-23T16:21:00.000-08:00

Studio name: Lang Xian
Impression: duo en, Abundant grace

A full third of the bulk of this stone had to be removed by the carver to reveal the dragon. I have no idea as to date or the actual identity of the carver, but the seal shows signs of much use.

A seal from a Taoist monastery

2008-02-23T16:13:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 3.25"h x 1.25"w x .63" deep
Studio Name: Ru Su
Inscription: A respected man, Mr. Dai Wen Jie, once said, at Yun Lin (Cloud Forest), in Yun Xi (West of Cloud), every tree and every rock is a part of the heavenly idyll. Because of my admiration for such a well educated man, I, a humble abbot who follows Taoist teachings, have decided to name my hermitage the Twin Clouds Bamboo Hut. Such is the origin of this seal, and is so recorded.
Impression: Two clouds bamboo hut

"Two clouds bamboo hut" was (is?) a Taoist hermitage. The inscription records the history of its founding and why the seal was made. This seal is the treasure among my seals: the stone is great, the calligraphy of the side inscription quite beautiful, the carving simple but assured.

Two frogs crawling over a lotus plant

2008-02-23T16:07:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 3.4"h x .87" x .87"
Studio name: Ying Shan
Date: 1774
Inscription: Qianlong, 38th year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day, carved by Ying Shan.
Impression: (Ying Shan zhen zang) Ying Shan's Collection

Another example of tour-de-force carving, of two frogs crawling over a lotus leaf. Probably a fake. The reign of the emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) was a highpoint of Chinese art and there are many 'copies' so dated. Any Chinese artifact dated in the Qianlong period must be suspect. I have a couple more!

Two melons sitting on a rectangular base

2008-02-23T16:00:00.000-08:00

Dimensions: 1.25"h x 1.3"w x .5" deep
Studio name: Xu(?) San
Date: 1746
Inscription: Qianlong, 10th year, carved by Xu(?) San.
Impression: Kindness must (bring) longevity

Another Qianlong seal (see the frog seal), and another possible fake, but a charmer.

Recommended books

2008-02-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

If you want to know more, a good place to start is:
"Word As Image: The Art of Chinese Seal Engraving" by Jason Kuo, China Institute, NY, 1992. It's in English, for one thing and, for another, available.
"Chinese Seals," U. of Washington Press, 1976 by T.C. Lai is another great one in English, but harder to find.

If you get serious the books you really need are all in Chinese.

Hong Juntao, Yang Tan and Zhang Yan: "Seal Script-Regular Script Dictionary" (Zhuan Zhen Zidian), Beijing, 1996. The essential book for translating from seal script to regular script.

Shang Chengzuo and Huang Hua ed: "Index of Calligraphers', Painters' and Seal Carvers' Names Down the Ages" (Zhongguo Lidai Shuhua Zhuanke Jia Zihao Suoyin), Hong Kong, 1968. For finding the given names of carvers for whom you know only the studio name, because the real reference books, you see, are organized by given names.

or, very similar...
Shanghai Museum ed, "Chinese Artists' Seals and Signatures" (Zhonguo Shuhuajia Yinjian Kuanshi), Beijing, 1987, 2 vols. Illustrates 23,000 seals and signatures of over 1200 Chinese artists from all periods.

for modern carvers...
"Seals and Signatures of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Painters" ( Zhonguo Xian Dangdai Shuhua Mingjia Yinkuan), Beijing, 1998. Illustrates about 3,000 different seal impressions and 500 signatures by 466 Chinese artists, active from 1919.

the definitive - and beautiful - source...
"Collection of Chinese Seals and Seal Carving," Vols. 3-4 (Zhongguo Xiyin Zhuanke Quanji 3-4), Zhongguo Meishu Fenlei Quanji. Shanghai, 1999. The Shanghai Museum is the source on stone seals.